Can't enable location services (Big Sur)

Have a try doing this from Safe Mode ( Shift ) at startup.

I'm no expert either. I found the problem: it' not "default" but "defaults" (plural)

The command should be sudo defaults write /var/db/locationd/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.locationd LocationServicesEnabled -int 1

I have the exact same problem! I’m on a 27” 2020 iMac purchased in September. The computer came with Catalina, and everything worked fine. However, since the update to Big Sur (11.1 and then updated to 11.2) the Location Services will NOT stay on after a shut down and a restart. I can start Location Services in the morning after powering up the computer, everything works fine throughout the day, then I’ll shut down the computer at night. The following morning, when I start the computer, Location Services is once again OFF.

I called Tech Support, spoke to two different reps and a manager, and none of them were able to solve the issue. Here’s what we tried:

1. Reset the NVRAM. Set Location Services to ON. Shut down computer. Restart computer holding down the Command-Option-P-R keys. After restart, go into Security & Privacy > Location Services. Location Services is once again OFF. Enter Password and reset Location Services to ON. Shut down computer. Restart Computer. Go into Security & Privacy > Location Services. Location services is OFF again.

2. Reset the SMC. Set the Location Services to ON. Shut down computer. Disconnect the power cord for 15-30 seconds. Plug power cord back in. Wait 5 seconds then restart the computer. Go into Security & Privacy settings > Location Services. Location Serves is OFF. Turn Location Services back on, click the lock to prevent further changes, then shut down the computer. Restart the computer. Go to Location Services. Location Services is once again OFF.

3. Start in SAFE MODE. Turn Location Services back on. Shut down Computer. Wait 10 seconds. Restart computer in Safe Mode by holding down the SHIFT key. After entering Safe Mode, check Privacy & Security > Location Services. Location Services is OFF. Turn Location Services back ON. Shut down computer. Then restart computer, go to Security & Privacy > Location Services. Location Services is again OFF. Turn Location Services back on. Click the lock to prevent further changes, and shut down the computer. Restart the computer, check Location Services. Location Services is once again OFF.

4. Run DISK FIRST AID on Hard drive. Open Disk Utilities and select Macintosh HD - Data. Run Disk First Aid. No Problems found. Set Location Services to ON. Shut down computer. Restart computer, and check Location Services. Location Services are again OFF.

5 REINSTALL BIG SUR 11.2 from RECOVERY DISK. Restart computer while holding Command -R. Select your Admin User name, then select the utilities > “Reinstall macOS Big Sur.” Wait an hour or so for the installation to complete. Go into Privacy & Security > Location Services and set Location Services to ON. Click the lock to prevent further changes, the shut down the computer. Restart the computer. Go to Security & Privacy > Location services. Location Services is again OFF. 

No matter what we tried, nothing worked to keep Location Services ON after a shut down and subsequent restart. The Apple Techs eventually said there was nothing else they could do, and I would just have to live with it!

Anyone have any other ideas? This issue only started with the upgrade from Catalina to Big Sur, so it seems to be a bug with Big Sur on my particular machine.

I’m on an iMac Retina 5K, 27 inch, 2020 with a 3.3 GHz 6-Core Intel i5, 16 GB 2667 MHx DDR4 memory, and an AMD Radeon Pro 5300 4 GB Graphics Card.

Help! :)

Seems to some type of file permission issue. From Recovery Mode use Disk Utilities and Repair Disk

Time to do a NVRAM/PRAM reset: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

Try to use Terminal to set it. I found an old post for High Sierra and Mojave (https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/344659/turn-on-location-services-for-an-app-via-command-line-macos) but nothing on Big Sur. Yet, the article may give you some ideas.

6x6 wrote:

Spoke too fast. I found this posting for Big Sur: https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/discussions/37581/configuring-ntp-time-zone-settings-in-big-sur.

The Terminal command should be: sudo default write /var/db/locationd/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.locationd LocationServicesEnabled -int 1

And you need to reboot after issuing the command.

Need to UnLock this Preference via the computer password to make changes. Once done, can re-Lock via the Padlock lower left corner.

I guess it's time to call the big guns: Get Support

Happy Holidays !!!

Spoke too fast. I found this posting for Big Sur: https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/discussions/37581/configuring-ntp-time-zone-settings-in-big-sur.

The Terminal command should be: sudo default write /var/db/locationd/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.locationd LocationServicesEnabled -int 1